Ferrari has potential to start closing the gap - Allison

Ferrari technical director James Allison believes his team has made progress in recent races but that it will need all of its updates to deliver at the coming races to start challenging its rivals regularly.

Ferrari has scored just one podium this year and has been battling with Force India and McLaren for points at recent races, rather than Canadian Grand Prix winners Red Bull and the dominant Mercedes. Allison admits his team is playing catch-up this year but is optimistic it is now in a position to start closing the gap to the front.

"Every season is dominated by the efforts back at the factory to try to improve the package that you have," he said. "If you're in front you work to stay in front and if you're not, then your efforts are aimed at bullying your way up the grid. We're not in front currently and we're doing our level best across every aspect of the car: mechanically, aerodynamically, electronically, every single component, set up wise, everything we can do to try to improve is being done.

"In recent races we have brought more upgrades than usual to the track and this has actually improved our position marginally. We just need to keep fighting the same fight, we have upgrade plans race by race. If we do a good job with all of those, it will start to tell and we will start to see the Ferrari run more consistently relatively to the opposition and start to look like something we can be more proud of. But it's not an easy fight, and it's a fight that never ends."

Allison said this weekend's grand prix in Austria would be a bit of unknown after 11 years without a Formula One race at the circuit.

"We cannot be sure what to expect but, as at any of the tracks this year, management of the Option in qualifying will be extremely important. You need to ensure you get the tyre prepared for a hot lap in Q2, while being sure the tyre can then cope with the first stint of the race."